Josh Rosen signs contract with Atlanta Falcons following backup's injury

Josh Rosen has found his fifth home.

The former UCLA football quarterback signed with the Atlanta Falcons late Monday night, a week after he was waived by the San Francisco 49ers. The Falcons will be Rosen's fifth team in four seasons since he got picked No. 10 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

A roster spot opened in Atlanta when quarterback AJ McCarron went down with a torn right ACL in Saturday's preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. Falcons coach Arthur Smith alluded towards his team picking someone up to take his place and compete with Feleipe Franks for the backup job when talking to the media Monday.

"I just think it's unfair to throw somebody out there and say, 'Here, here's the entire game plan, you better be able to operate,'" Smith said. "So, depending on who we sign, you know they'll be ready to go."

Smith's comments kept the door open for that then-unnamed veteran to take the field in Atlanta's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. It turns out that veteran is Rosen.

Josh Rosen is signing with the #Falcons, per source.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 24, 2021

The last time Rosen saw action was in the first week of the preseason with the 49ers, when he threw for 93 yards, an interception and a 55.7 rating on 10-for-15 passing against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rosen never got any regular season time in San Francisco, nor did he see the field at his prior stop, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent one year with the Arizona Cardinals and the next with the Dolphins, and he made 16 starts between the two franchises.

For his career, Rosen has tossed 12 touchdowns and 19 picks with a 63.5 passer rating and 54.8% completion percentage en route to 2,845 yards. In his three seasons with the Bruins, on the other hand, Rosen racked up 59 touchdowns, 26 interceptions and 9,340 yards with a 60.9% completion percentage and 140.1 passer rating.

Rosen will now be in the same quarterback room as five-time Pro Bowler and former league MVP Matt Ryan, as well as Franks, who went undrafted in April's 2021 NFL Draft.

Franks transferred from Florida to Arkansas last offseason after going 17-10 as the Gators' starter, and he led the Razorbacks to a 3-6 record in 2020. The 6-foot-6 quarterback finished his collegiate career with 6,700 yards, 55 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, a 143.3 passer rating and a 61.6% completion percentage.

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